When a stranger asked the farmer why he was beating his mule over the head with a two-by-four, the farmer replied, "I'm not trying to hurt him. I'm just trying to get his attention."

So might be the explanation for Republicans' demanding the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Sen. Ted Cruz and Mike Lee knew full well that with a Democratic-controlled Senate and with President Barack Obama, they had no chance of repealing the law. However, they did raise awareness of its folly. The American people and the mainstream media have noticed.

Not mentioned by anyone inside or outside the Beltway is the courage and bravery shown by congressional Republicans, who knew full well that Republicans would be blamed for the shutdown. Yet they did it anyway. Kudos to them all.

On Oct. 7, Rep. Mark Sanford was told: "Please tell your congressional and senatorial counterparts that if you all do the right things for the right reason, the majority of voting Americans will support you."

As most Americans understand, we cannot sustain a debt of $17 trillion and growing and $42 trillion in debt that includes the future costs of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Like them or not, most congressional Republicans are trying to get the message out that something must change.

Obama's reluctance to negotiate is all about winning back the House in 2014 and has nothing to do with solving Americans' fiscal problems. Sadly, to him, it is all about politics.